Leading up to the 2014 NBA Finals, here’s a look back at columns I wrote from each of the Spurs’ four championships. In this one, after a sweep of LeBron James’ Cleveland, I asked what were the odds that the Spurs wouldn’t win at least one more championship over the next three years. What no […]
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Leading up to the 2014 NBA Finals, here’s a look back at columns I wrote from each of the Spurs’ four championships. 6-24-05 Hot, cold and just warming up: Mix of global winners Brent and Rick Barry are together again. Rings, 30 years apart. Robert Horry and Steve Kerr find themselves linked, too. Both changed […]
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Leading up to the 2014 NBA Finals, here’s a look back at columns I wrote from each of the Spurs’ four championships. Robinson’s gift: A title pledge June 15, 2003 Three years ago David Robinson left the big island to give a big message. He flew from Hawaii, across the Pacific, over Staples Center, to […]
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Leading up to the 2014 NBA Finals, here’s a look back at columns I wrote from each of the Spurs’ four championships. Only Tim Duncan remains from that 1999 roster. And then there’s the other telling note of this 15-year gap. Duncan owned a camcorder and a VCR. Time of their lives? Just replay the […]
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a column from a dozen years ago. At the time, R.C. Buford’s path to become the Spurs’ general manager was improbable. Or, it was another step in becoming the 2014 NBA executive of the year. Unlikely leader? Rise of Buford April 16, 2002 The next general manager of the Spurs thought […]
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It was the LAX Marriott. The suite faced the pool. I was there. grantland.com/features/a-commissioners-legacy/ I would disagree with Charlie Pierce, a longtime friend, on one issue. The labor issue. The lockouts weren’t, as Pierce wrote, “stupid and unnecessary.” They were stupid and necessary. Stern forged a labor model that allowed small-market teams such as the […]
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Red McCombs is straight from central casting. Put him next to Longhorn cattle on a few million acres, with his booming voice and drawl, and he’s Bick Benedict from “Giant.” This week he played the role, with all of its stereotypes, in real life. Asked about Texas hiring Charlie Strong, McCombs told Dat Nguyen and […]
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A year ago, when Oklahoma was preparing to play Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, Bob Stoops assigned a redshirting freshman the job of impersonating Johnny Manziel. What Stoops saw then worried him about the upcoming game against the Aggies — and also gave him hope about what was possible later. Trevor Knight carved up […]
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